Q: How long is the crediting period for an OWD project?
A: 10 years. After the first 10-year crediting period, projects may apply for a second 10-year crediting period, but they must meet the eligibility requirements of the most current version of this protocol, including any updates to the performance standard test, as of the time that the second crediting period is requested.

Q: Is there any flexibility with the operational start date of a project?
A: Yes, the operational start date may be selected by the project developer within a 6 month timeframe from the date at which eligible feedstock is first loaded into the biogas control system (BCS or digester).

Q: How is project eligibility determined?
A: Eligibility for OWD projects is based around each individual waste stream itself, rather than the facility. For example, the start date for an OWD project is related to the date that eligible feedstock is first loaded into the project digester.

Q: What are the eligibility requirements regarding food waste from supermarkets or grocery stores?
A: Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) food waste and food-soiled paper waste streams are not eligible if sourced from grocery stores and/or supermarkets that have historically diverted these waste streams from landfills. Waste streams originating from new grocery store facilities are deemed eligible.

Also, the project must demonstrate the eligibility of each new grocery store waste stream by documenting that the food and food-soiled paper component of the grocery store waste was being disposed of in a landfill for a period of at least 36 months prior to the date that the grocery store waste was first delivered to the project digester or documenting that the grocery store waste stream was previously deemed to be an eligible waste stream at another OWD or OWC project that is registered with the Reserve. See Section 3.5.1 of the OWD protocol for details.

Q: If my project is co-digesting with manure (dairy cow or swine manure), what are the eligibility requirements?
A: The project must meet the performance standard requirements defined by the Organic Waste Digestion Project Protocol. Further, all livestock operations contributing manure to an OWD project must meet the eligibility requirements as defined in the most recent version of the Livestock Project Protocol.

Q: My project’s waste stream is subject to a local diversion mandate. Is my project eligible?
A: Yes, if (and only if) the food or food-soiled paper waste stream has an operational start date no later than 6 months after the local diversion mandate was passed into law, and the waste stream continues to pass the legal requirement test with regard to state and federal regulations.

Q: My project also generates electricity onsite. Is this eligible?
A: Beneficial use projects are eligible under the OWD protocol. However, no credits are issued for the displacement of grid electricity. Only methane avoidance is credited under our program. Depending on the project specifics, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) can sometimes be generated and sold, but this is separate from our program; displaced grid electricity is not credited by the Climate Action Reserve. See Table 4.1 of the protocol for details on what GHG sources are included and credited.

Q: My digester receives, among other substrates, livestock manure from a dairy that previously stored most of its manure in dry lots. Now the waste is co-digested in my centralized digester and the gas is sent to an engine. Is this eligible?
A: Dry lot storage results in waste breaking down primarily aerobically, and therefore produces little methane in the baseline. The focus of the protocol is on methane avoidance (destroying methane that was being created in the pre-project or baseline scenario). Therefore, dairies that stored very little manure in anaerobic lagoons pre-project will likely be able to claim little or no credits, as little or no methane avoidance is occurring. See Table B.6 of the U.S. Livestock Project Protocol (required for calculating the baseline manure component for co-digestion projects), for details and Methane Conversion Factor (MCF) percentages for anaerobic lagoons as compared with dry lot and compost type manure storage systems.

Q: What if I want to install a BCS at, for instance, a new dairy or rendering facility, where a BCS is not required by law? How do I establish a “pre-project” waste storage baseline if the facility’s waste treatment system is brand new?
A: These projects, referred to as “greenfield” sites, are only eligible if the project developer can demonstrate that uncontrolled anaerobic storage and/or treatment of wastewater (e.g. pits, lagoons) is common practice in the industry and geographic region where the project is located, and per local regulations.

Q: My project digests manure as well as whey from the dairy operation, food scraps from local businesses, and grease trap waste from fast food chain restaurants. Is it eligible?
A: Projects that co-digest material are eligible, but credits may only be claimed for the individual waste streams that are eligible under this protocol. To receive credit for the manure, you must follow the guidelines in the U.S. Livestock Project Protocol which contains the provisions for eligibility as well as the calculations. Whey waste water may be eligible as “agro-industrial wastewater” if, prior to the installation of the digester, this waste water was disposed of in an uncontrolled anaerobic lagoon, pond or tank.

Q: My project involves pumping agro-industrial wastewater streams into a digester. What are the monitoring requirements regarding this eligible waste stream?
A: There are specific monitoring requirements for agro-industrial waste streams. First, the daily volume of wastewater (m3/d) entering the digester must be recorded and monitored, and aggregated monthly. Second, the monthly chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the wastewater (MTCOD/m3) must be monitored and recorded prior to mixing with other residues. The monthly COD must be determined by sampling, and by following the COD sampling and analysis technique detailed in the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 5220 – Chemical Oxygen Demand.[QA/QC procedures for the inspection, cleaning, and calibration of wastewater monitoring equipment must be included in the Monitoring Plan, and monitoring equipment must be inspected, cleaned, and calibrated in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications.]

Q: With what frequency am I required to check my biogas flow meter for calibration accuracy?
A: For projects submitted under Version 2.0, gas flow meters must be checked for calibration accuracy at the end, but no more than two months before or after the end, of the reporting period that is being verified. If the check shows the meter to have a drift of +/- 5%, then the meter must be sent for factory calibration. In addition, all the previous data must be adjusted (according to protocol) for the entire time period since the last successful field calibration test. Therefore, if a more frequent schedule for calibration checks is implemented, it may lessen the chance of credits lost due to drifts outside of the +/- 5% range. See Section 6.2.1 in Version 2.0 of the protocol for further detail.

Q: What if the CRTs (offsets) generated by a project are owned by two parties? Which one should be the account holder in the system?
A: All the Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs) generated by a project must be unambiguously owned by one party, and that organization must be the account holder in the Reserve software. If multiple parties are involved, and they wish to share project revenue or receive/transfer CRTs after a project is registered, this must be clearly documented in contracts and agreed to by the different parties. Ultimately, one party must be given sole ownership over the initial issuance of CRTs. During verification, verification bodies will need to confirm the exact ownership regime, especially in instances where multiple parties are involved in the development of the project. CRTs shall never be double-counted or owned by multiple parties at the same time.

Q: What happens if my project was issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) by a regulatory body or there was an event in which the project was out of regulatory compliance?
A: Project developers are required to submit a signed Attestation of Regulatory Compliance at the end of each reporting period. For any period of time in which the project was out of material compliance with any laws (e.g. environmental, safety, etc.), the project may not claim any emission reductions. Instances of non-compliance only affect crediting if they are either recurrent or the result of negligence or intent. In addition, only violations related to the project activity (e.g. digester, flares, engine, effluent storage, etc.) affect project crediting. Project developers must submit in writing a list of all NOVs (project and non-project related, material and immaterial, etc.) during the reporting period to their verifier. Ultimately, the decision about what is material and what may affect project crediting is subject to verifier professional judgment, based on the guidelines in the OWD protocol and the Reserve’s Verification Program Manual.

Q: Why are FOG (fats, oils, and greases) wastes excluded from eligibility?
A: An analysis was conducted by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in January to May of 2009, which established a performance standard evaluating organic waste management practices. SAIC found that it was common practice that FOG waste is recognized as a recyclable resource and only small quantities are being sent to landfill. Therefore, these waste types would not typically qualify as achieving significantly improved GHG performance through diversion to digestion projects. Please refer to Appendix C of the protocol for further information.